Get Me Out of Here

My sweet girl, Pandora, took Best of Winners on two consecutive days this weekend at the shows in Santa Ana, California.

Rye and Rose

After going to our first dog show in a long time this past weekend, Dad has decided that it is much better to go to these things DRUNK. We are convinced that this is what some of the judges must do. And, really, who can blame them.

So, I must tell you, Dad has a new favorite drink. It's called Rye and Rose and it goes like this.

Rye and Rose

Equal parts Rye Whiskey, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, freshly-squeezed lime juice, and rosemary-infused simple syrup.

If you're a measuring kind of person, I'd say one overflowing large jigger of each.

Advance Prep: Combine equal parts water and sugar to make the simple syrup. Bring to a boil and then simmer until a nice syrupy consistency. Let cool and then pour in a jar with several sprigs of rosemary (be generous). Place the jar in your frig and let the infusing begin. The syrup should infuse for a least a few days before use.

Combine ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker, shake and pour into sugar-rimmed glass.

Now, wait, don't drink it yet. It isn't quite ready.

Drop one egg white into your cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until frothy. Pour frothy egg white evenly over the surface of your cocktail,

Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary and three cherries on a skewer.

Everything is all better now!

2 Treats + 2 Treats = Not Enough Treats

We were visiting Madison. Wisconsin the other day so we just had to stop by our favorite shop, Bad Dog Frida. And. You know what? They didn't disappoint. I mean the window display alone was worth the trip. But, of course, we always find something cool at Bad Dog Frida. This time it was the dog duvets from Molly Mutt. Beautiful duvets in great designs that you fill with your old worn out clothes and rags to create a very stylish doggy bed.

Dad, please don't wash your socks before adding them to the mix!

Bony Babies

You know, my dad hates rawhide bones and pizzles and bully sticks (we hear they are actually cow penises, is that true?). No pig's ears for us. And it really doesn't have anything to do with the fact that he is a vegetarian. He just thinks they are messy and gross and bad for our stomachs and sometimes they can lead to aggressive behavior when we become too possessive of them. Pretty much all the things we love about them.

That's why we were surprised when dad brought a Bony Baby home to us. It looks like a very cute stuffed toy, but it's so much more than that. You see these ingenious folks came up with the idea of cramming a rawhide bone inside of a loosely constructed stuffed toy. It is created just so we can tear it up and get to the good stuff inside. Although Dad only lets us chew on the bone for very limited times before he puts it up.

He brought us Oscar the Dog, but there is also a Trixie the Cat Bony Baby and a Osama Bone Laden Bony Baby. Click here to order your very own Bony Baby.

How to Lower Your Vet Bill

Advances in veterinary medicine mean more extensive, and expensive, treatments are available for animals, but even ordinary costs such as flea and tick protection can add up quickly. Here are some ways to curb those costs while still giving your pet the best of care.

To learn more, read the full column, “Containing Costs for Pet Care,”

Postcard from Cape Cod

My boy, Sherpa, visiting Cape Cod.